Benjamin Collins Ben Jernigan, a 28-year-old Navy veteran, artist and musician, was shot to death in North Knoxville in the pre-dawn hours of October 8, 2016. His blue Lincoln Town Car stalled just after crossing railroad tracks on Fairfax Avenue, apparently because a safety device that cuts fuel after a rear-impact had been tripped when the car bottomed out. The owner’s manual was found out of the glovebox, suggesting he was trying to diagnose the problem when he was confronted by an unknown assailant.

Evidence at the scene indicated a robbery occurred, though Jernigan reportedly had little money on him. He was shot once at point-blank range and was discovered deceased in the vehicle by a resident who called 911 around 5:45 a.m. No weapon was recovered, DNA testing was inconclusive, and investigators treating the case as a random crime of opportunity were unable to identify a suspect.

As of late 2025, there have been no arrests in the case. Anyone who was in the Fairfax Avenue area that morning or who has information about a stalled blue Lincoln Town Car is asked to share what they know.